Another big production for the Little Theatre

Review taken from The Bolton News, Tuesday 2nd November 2010

Independent Means by Bolton Little Theatre MORE than 100 years since it was penned, the lessons contained within Stanley Houghton's play have not been learned.

A leading member of the Manchester School of dramatists, Houghton sets his story in the fictional town of Salchester (an amalgam of Salford and Manchester — see what he did there?) and tackles the themes of new money and fortunes gained and lost.

Edgar and Sidney Forsyth played by
Phil Lunt and Rachel Hadjigeorgiou 

Edgar and Sidney Forsyth have returned early from their honeymoon much to the surprise of his parents, and it is immediately obvious there are problems within the marriage, with political opinions poles apart and financial difficulties largely left unspoken emerging from behind the velvet sofas of their opulent home.

The music is period, the set, thanks to furniture loaned by Bolton Pianos, spot-on, and the costumes perfect for the era.

After a slightly slow start the drama builds as the stories unfold and the relationships fall apart.

Cast and Crew of Independent Means

Rachel Hadjigeorgiou is fantastic as the fiercely strong Sidney Forsyth, standing up for her rights in the face of opposition from staunch Conservative husband Edgar, the excellent Phil Lunt, and his reactionary father, reliably played by Stewart Smith despite his character seemingly consuming an inordinate amount of whisky as his financial problems mount.

Mr Forsyth's patient wife, the faultless Shirley Ann Hill, meanwhile, gradually lets her frustrations show.

Frances Clemmitt is brilliant as maid Jane who, just as the Forsyth's fortune disappears inherits wealth of her own, while Michael Haworth almost steals the show as rich family friend Samuel Ritchie.

As well as his wealth Mr Forsyth loses his health, but all do not not necessarily live unhappily ever after.

Another great performance from Bolton Little Theatre who, with a few added twists, make what could have been a somewhat dated script their own.

Andrew Mosely, The Bolton News

• Independent Means runs at Bolton Little Theatre in Hanover Street until Saturday. Tickets 334400.

Little Theatre Guild: Northern Region Conference

NORTHERN REGION CONFERENCE at DONCASTER LITTLE THEATRE

19th to 21st November 2010

News has just come through about this event. The theme of the conference is Community, and is focussed on Doncaster’s recent receipt of a Lottery Grant to further community activity at the theatre.

The weekend starts on Friday evening with excerpts from a recent Youth Theatre production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle – Doncaster’s reputation for youth work is renowned. This is followed by supper and a light-hearted theatre quiz.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings there are workshops: on community development; Front of House; technical matters, especially lighting and video; and acting. Delegates will pick two out of the four.

   

Saturday afternoon is devoted to an open forum, followed by the regional AGM. The play in the evening will be The Changeling by Middleton & Rowley – a rare chance to see a Jacobean tragedy.

   

The conference closes with a lunch on Sunday, with a so far un-named guest speaker.

  

 This promises to be a lively and stimulating weekend. There will probably be two cars going from Bolton, so transport costs can be shared. The fixed minimum cost for conference fee and three meals (Sunday lunch is extra) is £29.50. The local hotels offer the usual range of accommodation at varied prices.

If you are interested in attending, please get in touch with Sandra Simpson quickly – she has full details. If you have not attended a Guild conference before, this might be the ideal introduction!

A bit of shameless promotion!

Spring Season Ticket

Save £6 PLUS receive ‘The Prompter’ FREE

See FOUR shows for just £30

an Ideal gift for birthdays and Christmas.

One ticket for:

Dangerous Corner

The Grapes of Wrath

The Browning Version / The Twelve Pound Look

The 39 Steps

Please send cheque for £30 payable to BLT to: Season Tickets, BLT, Hanover Street, Bolton, BL1 4TG, together with your name and address.

The BLT AGM

For those allergic to Acronyms this post is about the Bolton Little Theatre Annual General Meeting. This year it will be taking place at the theatre on Wednesday 10th November 2010 and everyone should have received their information through the post (if they are a paid up member).

If you have yet to recieve any papers then its probably because you have still yet to pay your membership. Get in touch with the membership secretary ASAP if this is the case.

Finally a quick, yet important note, that Nominations for Committee membership can still be received until 7 days before the AGM - midnight 2nd November. To be sent to Michael Shipley complete with names of Nominee and Seconder.

Coming next at BLT.

Independent Means

by Stanley Houghton

30th October to 6th November

STANLEY HOUGHTON (1881 – 1913) was one of the best of the so-called ‘Manchester School’ of playwrights, and much influenced by Ibsen.

His plays, dealing with the revolt against parental authority and the struggle between the generations, were first seen at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester, They include The Dear Departed (1908) and The Younger Generation (1910) both of which proved popular with amateur and repertory companies.

His best known play Hindle Wakes (1912) was, however, first seen in London, played by actors from the Gaiety in Manchester, and directed by Lewis Casson, their resident producer.

Houghton was born in Sale, and moved to Manchester as a child. His father was a prominent coal merchant. He attended Manchester Grammar School, and then worked in his father’s office until he gained his own financial independence with the success of Hindle Wakes in 1912.

In 1905 he started writing, unpaid, for the Manchester City News as a drama critic. He then began to contribute articles of journalism for the Manchester Guardian.

Following his success with The Dear Departed, he tried his hand at a full length play – Independent Means – which he wrote in 1908, and which was chosen to open the 2nd season at the Gaiety Theatre. It enjoyed two revivals there, and was first printed in 1911.

The success that followed Hindle Wakes was sadly short-lived. Houghton moved to London to write, and then to Paris in 1913. He fell very ill, and caught a fever in Venice, returned to Manchester to die of meningitis in December. He was 32, and unmarried.

The BLT production has a cast of Frances Clemmitt, Shirley Hill, Rachel Hadjigeorgiu, Michael Haworth, Phil Lunt and Stewart Smith.

Michael Shipley

Tickets are of course now on sale at the Albert Halls Ticket Office during normal shopping hours. Tel: 01204 334400. 

A Quick Notice

Can everyone please note that John Towers has resigned as chairperson of the committee and that Viv Bloomfield and Steven Knowles are not seeking re-election. Liz Tatman has put her name forward as chair and Mike Shipley has said that there is still time for other nominations to come in despite saying in the papers sent out that the closing date was the 20th of October. Dave Smart and Michael Howarth have been nominated to join the committee.

Nominations should be sent to Michael Shipley as soon as possible.

With sadness.

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Paul Webster. Paul appeared in a number of BLT productions including "It Aint half hot, Mum" and "Accrington Pals" . Always enthusiastic to learn more about the theatre he loved being on stage but would also help out with his "man and a van' service fetching and carrying furniture for the theatre.

Our thoughts go to his wife Jennie and the rest of his family